startling
adjective
star·tling
ˈstär-tᵊl-iŋ 
ˈstärt-liŋ
: causing fright, surprise, or astonishment
a startling discovery
startlingly
adverb
Examples of startling in a Sentence
Startling new evidence came to light during the trial.
He made a startling discovery.
It is a city of startling contrasts.
Recent Examples on the Web
What’s even more startling is that one-fifth of all senior generals promoted by Xi have either been fired or accused of wrongdoing.
—
The Week Uk, TheWeek, 7 Feb. 2026
And the boys reported a startling discovery in the Texas ICE facility – a schoolmate had been detained without the school district’s knowledge.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
This year, some criminals are creating fake websites that mimic actual gambling platforms, such as FanDuel and DraftKings — often with startling accuracy, according to the Joint Economic Committee.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
The emotions in the room were raw, compounded by a startling sense of surprise, according to sources briefed on conversations.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for startling
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The Week Uk, TheWeek, 7 Feb. 2026
And the boys reported a startling discovery in the Texas ICE facility – a schoolmate had been detained without the school district’s knowledge.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
This year, some criminals are creating fake websites that mimic actual gambling platforms, such as FanDuel and DraftKings — often with startling accuracy, according to the Joint Economic Committee.
—Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 5 Feb. 2026
The emotions in the room were raw, compounded by a startling sense of surprise, according to sources briefed on conversations.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for startling
Cite this Entry
“Startling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/startling. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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